Tag: yacht vacations

Sardinia, an Italian island in the Mediterranean, is almost a dichotomy of itself. With rugged mountainous interiors shaped by centuries of sea and weather, coupled with a pristine coastline of almost 2000 km of soft sandy beaches. The Italian island, that is much more Sardinian than Italian, attracts the celebrity and international elite who want to be seen, but also those that want to unravel the never ending wild natural interior, hiking and climbing the rugged mountains and steep cliffs.

One of the best things about being part of a Yacht Crew, is that your weekends off usually have you docked off the coast of some island, and when you are seeking adventure, there is no shortage of people to help you find it. I recall one such weekend, back in 2008, docked off St. Maarten, making the island of Saba the perfect quick jaunt for a getaway.

Yachting certainly elicits images of romance on the open sea, ports in exotic locales, champagne breakfasts and five-star dining. One does not necessarily think chicken fingers or little feet running around the deck. If planned correctly though, Yachting can be a family affair, and whether your children are young or teens, if you work with a broker that understands the necessity of having the perfect mix of boat, crew and locale, it will deliver a vacation that blows Disney World, quite literally, out of the water.

There are many Yachts now that are “Pro-Family” and have made design choices or adjustments to the ship and to the crew to make your Charter a spectacular vacation that is not all about the kids or all about the adults, but a true family experience. Chartering a Yacht has the ability to offer endless adventure and experiences to everyone on board. Did I mention this does not include having to check in and out of numerous hotels?

This all started over 15 years ago when I first discovered the world of yachting. I had just graduated from University and had a need for adventure. The idea of “super yachts” had been on my radar for some time, so I made the first step and moved from the United Kingdom to the Bahamas. I worked a few years for the most amazing Private Island Resort. Those years changed me, I was blown away by this Bahamian Island way of life. They welcomed and treated me as one of their own and introduced me to a world which revolves around the ocean. The friends and colleagues I met made a lasting impact on me and helped foster my need to discover the real people and culture everywhere I go.

Moving on in my travels I caught a flight to Fort Lauderdale and stepped onboard my first super yacht as a stewardess. The yacht took my breath away, it was almost as if it was alive, it’s beauty, it’s strength, and the promise of the places it could take me. I never looked back. For me, I found a part of myself in this industry. I am infatuated by Yachts and their ability to explore. The crew I had the pleasure of working with and knowing are some of the most interesting and talented people I have ever met. There is no doubt that we worked hard. We became accustomed to providing the highest personalized standard of service. We were perfectionists, and for me there is no other way. When we had time off, the crew and I explored places I never imagined I would see, dove world class dive sites, bbq’ed with the locals, climbed volcanoes, hiked valleys, swam in waterfalls and became fully acquainted with the country’s fine dining, wine and entertainment. All in the name of our profession.

Now my life may be more land based but I will never lose my love for yachts, oceans, traveling, adventures and connecting with people around the world.